Hanke, Lewis Ulysses (1905-1993)

US historian. Often credited with establishing Latin American history as a viable academic discipline in the USA, his international reputation is reflected by his numerous international honorary degrees. His personal scholarship focused on the Spanish viceroys and Dominican missionary Bartolomé de Las Casas. His five volume Guide to the Study of United States History Outside the US, 1945-1980 (1985), reveals how foreigners study the USA. Hanke was special assistant to the US Secretary of State for Latin American Affairs, and member of the US National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (1952-54). He received the Nebrija Award, one of Spain's highest cultural honors, in 1992.

Hanke was born in Oregon City, Oregon. He was educated at Northwestern and Harvard universities, gaining his PhD from the latter in 1936. He taught at the University of Texas (1951-61), Columbia University (1961-67), the University of California, Irvine (1967-69), and the University of Massachusetts (1969-75; professor emeritus, 1975). He directed the Hispanic Foundation of the Library of Congress (1939-51).